Gloria Gray’s Glorious Day of Unity

By Kenneth Miller |Publisher

The gospel music serenaded a theme of hope and inspiration at the Arbor Vitae St. entrance of Darby Park where Inglewood residents hauled their wagons filled with ice chest and portable chars for the City of Inglewood’s District 1 Councilmember Gloria Gray’s Family Unity Fun Day on July 26 on a warm muggy summer day.

FAMILY UNITY DAY-Inglewood District 1 Councilmember Gloria Gray (center in white) hosted Inglewood Family Unity Day on July 26 at Darby Park. ( KENNETH MILLER/PHOTO)

As the walk continued past the gymnasium where artists such as Tommy Clown and others assembled before their performances to the north east of Darby Park and just to the left of spung walking track young children amused themselves with multi colored plastic hula-hoops, then right beyond Kids Corner two young boys competed in a game of basketball on the outdoor courts.

Grown-ups gathered in their folding chairs alongside the stretching grass dotting by trees that shielded them from the baking sun but offered a perfect view of the stage where they were treated to acts from solo artist such as Major, groups Lakeside, LaVerdad, Katalyst and the Mariachi Divas.

WOW IT’S MAJOR-Chart topping gospel singer Major was among the big entertainers at Inglewood Family Unity Day July 26 at Darby Park. (KENNETH MILLER/PHOTO)

Their appetites for a variety of music being fulfilled while further north on the baseball field that would normally occupy the Dodgers Dreamteam League was decorated with Vuger Guyz vegetarian food truck where delicious burgers and fries were offered for the complementary food vouchers, as well as trucks from Stormburger, Tacos by Hersh and Lavender Blue Group to cover a variety of taste.

Clearly Family Unity Fun Day provided something for everyone and cohesively seamed together cultures and generations during a season of political division and anxiety of a future yet unknown to all.

(KENNETH MILLER/PHOTOS)

“I appreciate the councilwoman bringing us together, especially in a time like this. It just shows the quality of the leadership that we have in Inglewood. As an LA Board Member who has one schools in La Unified here in Inglewood, Century Park, we glad to be here to celebrate with them,” said LAUSD Board Member Sherlett Hendy Newbill.

Her sentiments were echoed by the indefatigable host Councilmember Gray who spent most of her long day accommodating the many elected officials, guest and artist behind the stage.

The music and food shared on the day of the event was done by design according to Councilmember Gray.

“Today is all about bringing folks together to celebrate our culture, to celebrate our diversity to celebrate our resilience and I do believe that diversity and working together really makes a difference in any community, and that’s what Inglewood is all about,” Councilmember Gray explained to South Bay Black Journal.

Gray applauded the leaders from throughout the South Bay area such as State Senator Laura Richardson, former State Senator Steve Bradford and neighboring community Lawndale Mayor Robert Pullen-Miles, Gardena Councilmember Wanda Love, Inglewood Unified School District Administrator Dr. James Morris, City of Inglewood Planning Manager Bernard Mc Crumby, in addition to Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts, Jr., Councilmember Eloy Morales, City Clerk Aisha Thompson and Inglewood Treasurer Angela Allen.

UNIFIED FOR FAMILY- Lawndale Mayor Robert Pullen-Miles and Inglewood District 1 Councilmember Gloria Gray at her Inglewood Family Unity Day July 26 at Darby Park. (KENNETH MILLER/PHOTO)

Lawndale Mayor Pullen-Miles was happy to attend the event and said that it was all about the families.

“Councilmember Gloria Gray is all about families, so when I got the invite, I said I am there, so we are just having a good time and all of the families are here,” said Mayor Pullen-Miles.

“I am extremely appreciative of Mayor Butts who was very supportive of this event and he understands what its’ all about in terms of bringing folks together and we are grateful for his leadership, as well as city council and well as all of our commissioners and I really want to emphasize the important role that all of our commissioners played in making sure that we did what we should do,” added Councilmember Gray.

When the bow was tied on Inglewood Family Unity Day, it was a fun filled event that was true to the theme for Councilmember Gloria Gray, a ‘Glorious Day’ indeed.

FAMILY UNITY DAY- (KENNETH MILLER/PHOTO)